Title

Author

Date of Award

4-17-2017

Document Type

Restricted Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN)

Department

Nursing

First Advisor

Deborah Schumacher

Abstract

Catheter-based percutaneous procedures to diagnose and treat various cardiac disorders are popular options for many patients compared to open-heart surgery. Patients with cardiac arrhythmias who do not tolerate medication management may have a catheter- based procedure called a Radiofrequency Ablation. A consistent complaint of Radiofrequency Ablation patients in the post-procedure setting is back, shoulder, and neck pain resulting from the variable factors of procedure length, sedation and analgesic medication administration, and an ability to only have limited body movements during the procedure. The ability to manage patients' discomfort effectively becomes a primary focus of nursing staff in the post-procedure setting and has a direct correlation on overall patient satisfaction. A care process reducing post-procedural pain levels was developed to be implemented in a large Midwestern cardiac medical care center. Watson's Caring Science Theory to be implemented in a large Midwestern cardiac medical care center. Science Theory and a metaphor highlighting the theoretical concepts of caring, presence, and connection were used as a framework for the care process. Transformational nursing leadership skills were utilized to integrate the multidisciplinary team through engagement, collaboration, and connections resulting in positive patient outcomes. The care process has implications for improving pain management and patient experience scores in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey.